Ida B., by Katherine Hannigan, tells the bittersweet tale of Ida B. a precocious, free willed fourth grader whose life is almost perfect. Ida B. spends her days playing on her family's farm in the apple orchard and babbling brook. That is, almost perfect until it's turned upside down when the home schooled, only child's mom gets cancer and Ida B. gets sent back to school.
Ida B., feeling betrayed by her parents and the world for the bad times that came upon her, hardens her heart against her parents, new teacher, new neighbors, new classmates, and even the trees and brook who were once her good friends.
Despite Ida B.'s stubbornness, small acts of kindness and eventually, Ida B.'s conscious let's her now that she's gone too far and builds a growing regret inside her.
Let Ida B. into your classroom as a read-aloud or for independent reading. Ida B. would be a great read aloud to focus on in a character study unit of study in reader's workshop.
